Oil Exploration: Group Lauds NNPC’s Efforts In North

A group, the PMB’s Oil and Gas Progress (POGP), has praised the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) under the leadership of the group managing director (GMD), Maikanti Baru, for its determination to explore oil in the northern part of the country.

The national coordinator of the group, Alhaji Mohammed Abdullahi, gave the commendation while briefing Journalists in Bauchi yesterday. He said President Muhammadu Buhari, since assuming the leadership of the country in 2015 has demonstrated the intention of the federal government in the exploration of oil and gas in the north which he said can be seen “in the ongoing exploration exercise in Bauchi and Gombe States with significant progress made in that direction.”

He said the step taken by the President through the NNPC has made oil prospecting a reality in the Northern part of the country a feat which was formerly seen by past administrations as an exercise in futility. According to Abdullahi, “The evidence has shown that there is the presence of oil and gas in the north. All that is needed is the political will to carry out the exploration to its logical end.

The POGP coordinator however, expressed optimism in the prospect of oil discovery in the north and commended the leadership style of Baru for his doggedness in oil exploration saying the NNPC under Baru has flagged off oil search in the Nasarawa end of the Benue Trough and has commenced move to mobilise for oil exploration in Benue State as well. He said oil search drive in the nation’s inland basins was in fulfilment of the presidential mandate of exploring oil which was driven by the urgent need to increase Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves which will in turn improve revenue base of the country and create more business and employment opportunities for the citizens.

He explained that the enthusiasm he had over the NNPC’s search for oil and gas was borne out of the corporation’s determination for exploring oil and gas, adding that he was convinced that the success of the results from the data acquired will lead to the drilling of exploration wells in the region.

states mentioned therefore launch some of the northern states into the league of producing states in Nigeria.